Dog Chewing: Tips For A Necessary Habit
Thought Of The Month: Chewing
I still remember the day my sister’s dog , Milo, chewed up my brand new Birkenstock like it was yesterday. ‘It’s not his fault’, I breathed through gritted teeth, ‘chewing is a natural behaviour’. And, although losing a couch cushion, a shoe, a book (the list goes on) to our dog’s little shark teeth can be beyond frustrating, chewing is, indeed, a natural behaviour.
Chewing is a very important pastime (with evolutionary importance!) for your dog, and it is not an act of resentment, a result of teething, or a sign of mental disorder.
Read on for chew-training tips!
Tip 1: Teach ‘Yes!’ before ‘No!’
Firstly, keep an untrained dog in a dog-proofed room or crate to break (or prevent) them chewing ‘illegal’ items.
Secondly, audition ‘legal’ chew items to find a bunch that your dog likes (see Tip 2!) and that you are willing to regularly supply: get your pup hooked on these.
Finally, after rules 1&2 have been in place for about 3 weeks, loosen up your management and interrupt/redirect any illegal chewing.
Tip 2: What to Chew?
Every dog differs in terms of their favourite chew-objects and the frequency with which they want to chew. Below are some fantastic and safe options to get your chew-a-holic dog:
Puzzle Toys
When stuffing kongs/toys, stuff loosely for the first week or two, gradually ramping up the difficulty of unstuffing for your dog.
Kongs, Linkables, Tug-a-Lugs, Twist-N-treats, etc.
We love this stuff-able and durable ball from Homes Alive Pets!
Consumables
Bully Sticks, Yak Chews, Rawhides, Pig Ears, Nylabones, etc.
Pro-Level Stuffing
Use a soft & sticky substance (eg. Peanut Butter) to hold kibble/treat bits in.
Kongsicle: insert filling - freeze until hard (eg kibble + water)
Nested: wrap treats in a towel, knot it closed, place in old tupperware
Treasure Hunt: hide kong or nested kong in more and more difficult places around home
